Earnest
I could not believe what I was hearing from my clerk, Cluan Cheap.
"And so, Mr Earnest, I have the great honour to formally request your permission for your ward, Montana, to sign the document known as the Declaration of Intent jointly. The first of three steps that will lead to us joining our hands in holy matrimony and sharing all our worldly goods, until death do us part."
Tears welled up in my eyes.
"Montana, are you sure that this is your wish?"
"Yes, Uncle Earnest."
"But my dear, you have never before shown any interest in our…" . . . I had to spit the words out. "Mr Cheap."
Cluan Cheap put his arm possessively around Montana's shoulders, and if she flinched, he did not notice.
"We have always ensured that we conduct our courtship with the utmost discretion, sir. We thought it improper to display our mutual affection until we had your permission to make it public. There was also the matter of office efficiency. I would never allow personal matters to interrupt the flow of business, and during office hours, we maintained a formal distance. We showed not the slightest hint of our deep love for one another, although we found it difficult to conceal at times. So great is our mutual affection."
A surge of bright, angry red flooded the visible area of Montana's chest, but she remained silent.
"This is all very extraordinary. May I speak to you in private, Montana?"
"That will not be necessary," said Mr Cheap. "There are no secrets between us from this day onwards and never will be."
"I asked Montana, sir, not yourself," I said angrily.
"The same thing, sir, the same thing," replied Cheap calmly, but his eyes were beginning to harden.
"I am at my wits' end and cannot give you an answer at the moment," I said.
"But, my dear Earnest, you must," said Cheap. I require immediate affirmation. I do not wish to apply unnecessary pressure, sir, but I ask you to consider the consequences of your refusal.
I looked at Montana, and an unnerving thought, more like a flash of intuition, came into my mind.
"Montana, do you know anything concerning the circumstances of Mr Cheap's threats to me?"
"She knows nothing," said Cheap, and Montana lowered her head.
"Montana?"
Oh, Uncle," she said and burst into tears.
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"Get out of here, you scoundrel; nothing will induce me to allow Montana to sacrifice her future on my behalf. Leave these premises immediately, and if you dare to return, I will have you thrown out!"
But Cheap refused to accept the defeat.
"Without the promise of her hand, I will leave your employment willingly and never return. But I swear to the life of my dearly departed mother that I intend to deposit certain important documents with the police before I leave. The decision is yours, Mr Earnest. If I leave this room now, you will never see my face again, and no amount of pleading will make me return.
"Well?"
"I will not be blackmailed a day longer; do what you will, Cheap, and get out of here before I throw you out myself!"
"How very practical of you, Earnest, not to risk yourself but to willingly sacrifice your brother. What a noble gesture! I daresay you have sufficient money in the bank to allow an extremely comfortable retirement, and with the family's reputation in tatters, the business will collapse, and you will drive your ex-employees into destitution.
"As you well know, our glorious government takes a very dim view of poor people and will not give them a cent in financial support. As for young Montana here, no eligible young man will consider taking a bride from such a disgraced family. But you see her as your lifelong companion and nurse, cooking for you, tending to your needs as you grow old and infirm, and watching her age beside you.
"What a convenience it is for you that I should go! Wish me well. Earnest, I have served you well in my way, and goodbye to you, Montana. Try hard not to become a bitter old woman filled with hate for the world. But I fear that is what you will become. Farewell, my love."
Cheap turned away, walked to the door, and grasped the handle.
"No," said Montana. "Cluan, wait, do not go."
Cheap stood perfectly still for a moment, as if unsure whether to go or stay. Then he dropped his hand and turned to face Montana.
"A change of mind, my pretty? But hurry; I have no more time to waste. State your decision, or I leave this instant."
"I will sign the declaration, Cluan. Have the document drawn up," said Montana calmly.
"Excellent choice, my dear, but you, of course, realise that once signed, a D.C. becomes an official contract, and there are severe consequences for a signatory who fails to comply with the agreement."
"I will honour the agreement, Cluan; you have my word."
"You swear? Said Cluan, 'Even if the boy you had your heart set on should miraculously reappear?' This is, of course, highly unlikely, but they have not yet found his body. My dear departed mother, in her great wisdom, instilled in me the need to cover every single possibility in a contract, no matter how improbable."
"I swear," said Montana.
I will not allow him to see me cry.
"You have my word."
"Montana," I said, What are you doing?"
"It is for the best, Uncle. If you love me, please give Cluan your consent.
"But Montana, there must be another way," I said, my voice trailing off.
"There is not. Now, please tell him that you agree."
I stared down at Cheap with my lip curled.
"Very well, I give my consent, but I swear, Cheap, if you ever harm her in any way…"
"No more threats. Uncle, please. May I call you uncle? I am one of the family now – well, almost.
I made no reply and lowered my head.
Cheap smirked.
"I will have the contract drawn up forthwith; now come, my dear. We have our future to discuss."